Newly sworn-in commissioners will promote economic development

Current county commissioner Mike Byerly and new commissioners Robert Hutchinson and Charles Chestnut IV were sworn in as county commissioners during the ceremony at the Alachua County Administration Building on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, in Gainesville, Fla.

Published: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 4:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 4:55 p.m.

Three Democrats elected to the Alachua County Commission this month were sworn into office Tuesday, citing economic development and intergovernmental cooperation as top goals.

District 1 Commissioner Mike Byerly began his fourth term on the board, having been first elected in 2000.

He stood with his wife, Busy Shires Byerly, before Senior Judge Aymer "Buck" Curtin -- the man who married them -- as he was sworn into office for the fourth time.

He was followed by new Commissioners Charles S. "Chuck" Chestnut IV and Robert "Hutch" Hutchinson, who stood with their families as they were sworn into the District 5 and District 3 seats, respectively.

Hutchinson, who previously served on the commission from 1998 to 2002, told the packed chamber at the Alachua County Administration Building downtown that he would spend his term listening to citizens, county staff and other commissioners to best determine what action he should take on any given issue.

He said there were many things in the county that people could point with pride to, including its conservation efforts and strong partnerships with local city commissions, but that he viewed with concern the need to develop a better water ethic and the challenge of maintaining an open, constructive dialogue with those commissions.

He thanked Byerly and Chestnut, with whom he campaigned during the lead-up to the November general election. They ran as the Three Musketeers, or to some, the Three Stooges, Hutchinson said to laughter from the crowd.

"So gents, we won't always agree, but you know I'll have your back," he told the pair of newly sworn-in commissioners.

Chestnut, who recently served as a state legislator, said he would focus on spurring local job creation and promoting development in east Gainesville and the eastern portion of the county overall. To go out to eat or go shopping, he has to go to west Gainesville, he said.

"Something is wrong. Why don't we have those amenities on the east side of town, the east side of the county?" he asked.

He said he would champion the commission's goal of relocating the Alachua County Fairgrounds and retooling its current location at 3100 NE 39th Ave. in Gainesville as a business park.

Echoing Hutchinson's emphasis on cooperation with the county's city commissions, he said working with the cities would be vital to create a solid transportation plan moving forward.

"We have to stand as one county," he said.

Byerly kept his comments short, thanking voters for electing not only himself and the new commissioners, but also Commissioners Susan Baird and Lee Pinkoson.

"Mostly what I feel this morning is gratitude," he said.

Baird said she was glad to hear Chestnut and Hutchinson cite job creation as a key priority, which she shares.

She also emphasized the need to "dig deep and dig hard" to find a strategy for funding the infrastructure improvements the county needs, especially in the wake of voters' rejection of the "Fix Our Roads" sales tax referendum meant to address that problem.

Pinkoson echoed earlier comments about the importance of promoting economic development, but said he hoped residents who don't hold advanced degrees will receive substantial consideration in the county's job creation efforts.

Pinkoson and Byerly were elected vice chair and chair of the board, respectively, with no objections or competing nominations. With the establishment of those roles, the commission solidified its line-up for the next two years until Baird and Pinkoson's seats come up for election in 2014.

As Byerly said during his speech at the 45-minute meeting, they have their work cut out for them.

<p>Three Democrats elected to the Alachua County Commission this month were sworn into office Tuesday, citing economic development and intergovernmental cooperation as top goals.</p><p>District 1 Commissioner Mike Byerly began his fourth term on the board, having been first elected in 2000.</p><p>He stood with his wife, Busy Shires Byerly, before Senior Judge Aymer "Buck" Curtin -- the man who married them -- as he was sworn into office for the fourth time.</p><p>He was followed by new Commissioners Charles S. "Chuck" Chestnut IV and Robert "Hutch" Hutchinson, who stood with their families as they were sworn into the District 5 and District 3 seats, respectively.</p><p>Hutchinson, who previously served on the commission from 1998 to 2002, told the packed chamber at the Alachua County Administration Building downtown that he would spend his term listening to citizens, county staff and other commissioners to best determine what action he should take on any given issue.</p><p>He said there were many things in the county that people could point with pride to, including its conservation efforts and strong partnerships with local city commissions, but that he viewed with concern the need to develop a better water ethic and the challenge of maintaining an open, constructive dialogue with those commissions.</p><p>He thanked Byerly and Chestnut, with whom he campaigned during the lead-up to the November general election. They ran as the Three Musketeers, or to some, the Three Stooges, Hutchinson said to laughter from the crowd.</p><p>"So gents, we won't always agree, but you know I'll have your back," he told the pair of newly sworn-in commissioners.</p><p>Chestnut, who recently served as a state legislator, said he would focus on spurring local job creation and promoting development in east Gainesville and the eastern portion of the county overall. To go out to eat or go shopping, he has to go to west Gainesville, he said.</p><p>"Something is wrong. Why don't we have those amenities on the east side of town, the east side of the county?" he asked.</p><p>He said he would champion the commission's goal of relocating the Alachua County Fairgrounds and retooling its current location at 3100 NE 39th Ave. in Gainesville as a business park.</p><p>Echoing Hutchinson's emphasis on cooperation with the county's city commissions, he said working with the cities would be vital to create a solid transportation plan moving forward.</p><p>"We have to stand as one county," he said.</p><p>Byerly kept his comments short, thanking voters for electing not only himself and the new commissioners, but also Commissioners Susan Baird and Lee Pinkoson.</p><p>"Mostly what I feel this morning is gratitude," he said.</p><p>Baird said she was glad to hear Chestnut and Hutchinson cite job creation as a key priority, which she shares.</p><p>She also emphasized the need to "dig deep and dig hard" to find a strategy for funding the infrastructure improvements the county needs, especially in the wake of voters' rejection of the "Fix Our Roads" sales tax referendum meant to address that problem.</p><p>Pinkoson echoed earlier comments about the importance of promoting economic development, but said he hoped residents who don't hold advanced degrees will receive substantial consideration in the county's job creation efforts.</p><p>Pinkoson and Byerly were elected vice chair and chair of the board, respectively, with no objections or competing nominations. With the establishment of those roles, the commission solidified its line-up for the next two years until Baird and Pinkoson's seats come up for election in 2014.</p><p>As Byerly said during his speech at the 45-minute meeting, they have their work cut out for them.</p><p>Contact Morgan Watkins at 352-338-3104 or morgan.watkins@gvillesun.com.</p>